Time Conjunctions in English: Rules, Examples and Practice

One of the most important things we do when we speak or write is explain when things happen. We tell stories, describe routines, report events, and connect actions in time. In this lesson, you will learn how to use time conjunctions in English to connect events clearly and naturally.

We do not usually speak in short, separate sentences like this:

• I arrived. It started raining.

We sound much more natural when we connect the ideas:

• When I arrived, it started raining.

Or:

• I finished my work. I went home.

becomes:

• After I finished my work, I went home.

This is where time conjunctions are extremely useful.

Time conjunctions help us show what happened first, what happened next, what was happening at the same time, and what had already happened before another action. They make your English sound smoother, more logical, and more fluent.

They are especially useful for Cambridge English exams, such as B2 First and C1 Advanced, because you need them in stories, essays, articles, reports, reviews, and speaking answers.

In this lesson, you will learn how to use the most important time conjunctions in English:

• before and after
• until and by the time
• as soon as and once
• since
• when and while

You will also see common mistakes and natural example sentences.

What Is a Time Conjunction?

A time conjunction is a word or phrase that joins two parts of a sentence and tells us when something happens.

For example:

• After she finished her work, she went for a walk.

This sentence has two parts:

• After she finished her work
• she went for a walk

The word after tells us the order of events.

We can also put the time conjunction in the middle of the sentence:

• She went for a walk after she finished her work.

Both sentences are correct.

Word Order with Time Conjunctions

A time conjunction can come at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.

When the time clause comes first, we usually use a comma:

• After I finished work, I went home.
• When the phone rang, I was having dinner.
• As soon as she arrived, everyone started clapping.

When the time clause comes second, we usually do not use a comma:

• I went home after I finished work.
• I was having dinner when the phone rang.
• Everyone started clapping as soon as she arrived.

This is a small detail, but it makes your writing look much cleaner.

Before and After

We use before and after to show the order of events.

Before means earlier than another action.

After means later than another action.

• Marta and her husband got divorced after only a year of marriage.
• Brian worked as a librarian before he started his career in a multinational company.

Before / After + Clause

We can use before and after with a full clause.

A clause has a subject and a verb.

• Before I went to bed, I checked my emails.
• After she finished university, she moved to London.

Before / After + -ing Form

We can also use before and after with the -ing form of a verb.

• Before leaving the house, she checked the windows.
• After finishing his homework, he watched a film.

This structure is useful in writing because it sounds concise and natural.

Until

We use until to show that an action or situation continues up to a particular moment.

It answers the question: How long does it continue?

• The dog sat quietly until Mark came back.
• The children played outside until their mother called them in.

In these examples, something continues and then stops or changes.

• The dog sat quietly.
• Then Mark came back.

The situation changed.

By the Time

By the time means not later than a particular moment.

It often focuses on the result of an action at a certain point in time.

• It was dark by the time we reached the house.
• By the time they arrived at the cinema, the film had already started.

We often use by the time with the past perfect when we talk about something that had already happened before another past moment.

By the time the police arrived, the thief had disappeared.

Until or By the Time?

Learners often confuse until and by the time, but they are not the same.

Use until when something continues.

Use by the time when something has already happened before or at a particular moment.

Compare:

• I waited until she arrived.

This means I continued waiting. Then she arrived.

• By the time she arrived, I had already left.

This means she arrived too late. I was no longer there.

As Soon As

As soon as means immediately after something happens. There is little or no delay.

• As soon as she finished one email, she started writing another.
• I’ll make you a cup of tea as soon as I finish cooking.

As Soon As in Future Sentences

This is very important.

After as soon as, we normally use the present simple to talk about the future.

Correct:

• I’ll call you as soon as I get home.

Incorrect:

• I’ll call you as soon as I will get home.

This rule also applies after many other time conjunctions, such as when, before, after, and until.

Once

Once is similar to as soon as, but it often sounds a little more general or conditional.

It means when something has happened or after something has been completed.

• Once I finish this essay, I’ll go out and relax.
• Once you get used to the system, it becomes much easier.

Once or As Soon As?

Use as soon as when you want to emphasise that something happens immediately.

Use once when you mean after something has happened or when a condition has been completed.

Compare:

• I’ll phone you as soon as I arrive.

This means I will phone immediately.

• Once I arrive, I’ll phone you.

This also means after I arrive, but it sounds a little less urgent.

Since

We use since to refer to the starting point of a situation.

It is very often used with the present perfect.

• Laura has known Paul since they were children.
• We haven’t heard from them since April.

Since + Time Point

We use since with a point in time.

• since Monday
• since 2018
• since April
• since yesterday
• since I was a child
• since we moved here

Examples in sentences:

• I haven’t seen him since Monday.
• They have lived here since 2018.
• She has worked from home since the baby was born.

Since or For?

This is another common mistake.

Use since with a starting point.

Use for with a period of time.

Compare:

• I have lived here since 2020.
• I have lived here for six years.
• She has been a teacher since September.
• She has been a teacher for several months.
• They have known each other since childhood.
• They have known each other for many years.

When

We use when to talk about the time something happens.

• Pam was shocked when she saw her electricity bill.
• When he feels sad, he listens to classical music.

When for Repeated Situations

We can use when to talk about habits or repeated situations.

• When I feel tired, I go for a walk.
• When my children were young, we used to read every evening.

When for Interrupted Actions

We often use when with the past continuous and past simple.

The longer background action is usually in the past continuous.

The shorter interrupting action is usually in the past simple.

• I was sleeping when the phone rang.
• They were walking home when it started to rain.

While

We use while to talk about something that happens during another action.

It often introduces a background action.

• The girls were dancing while the boys were playing football.
• They talked about politics while waiting for the train.

While with Two Actions at the Same Time

We can use while when two longer actions happen at the same time.

• I was cooking while my husband was setting the table.
• The children were playing while their parents were talking.

When or While?

Use when for a point in time or a shorter action.

Use while for a longer action or background activity.

Compare:

• I was having a shower when the phone rang.
• The phone rang at one moment.
• I listened to a podcast while I was having a shower.
• The podcast continued during the shower.

Common Time Conjunctions in English: Quick Summary

Here is a quick summary of the most common time conjunctions in English.

Before

Use: earlier than another action

Example: Wash your hands before you eat.

After

Use: later than another action

Example: We went for a walk after lunch.

Until

Use: up to the moment something changes

Example: I waited until she arrived.

By the time

Use: not later than a particular moment

Example: By the time we arrived, the film had started.

As soon as

Use: immediately after something happens

Example: I’ll call you as soon as I get home.

Once

Use: after something has happened or been completed

Example: Once you understand it, it becomes easy.

Since

Use: from a starting point in time

Example: I’ve known her since we were children.

When

Use: at the time something happens

Example: I was cooking when he called.

While

Use: during another action

Example: She listened to music while she was studying.

Common Mistakes with Time Conjunctions

1. Using will after time conjunctions

Incorrect:

• I’ll call you when I will arrive.
• We’ll start as soon as he will come.
• She’ll wait until you will finish.

Correct:

• I’ll call you when I arrive.
• We’ll start as soon as he comes.
• She’ll wait until you finish.

In future time clauses, use the present simple after time conjunctions.

2. Confusing until and by the time

Incorrect:

• I had left until she arrived.

Correct:

• I waited until she arrived.
• By the time she arrived, I had left.

Use until for continuation.

Use by the time for something that has already happened by a certain moment.

3. Confusing since and for

Incorrect:

• I have known her since ten years.

Correct:

• I have known her for ten years.
• I have known her since 2016.

Use for with a period of time.

Use since with a starting point.

4. Using while for a short interruption

Incorrect:

• I was watching TV while the phone rang.

Better:

• I was watching TV when the phone rang.

Use when for a short action that interrupts a longer one.

5. Forgetting the comma after an opening time clause

Less clear:

• When I arrived everyone was waiting.

Better:

• When I arrived, everyone was waiting.

Use a comma when the time clause comes first.

Time Conjunctions in Stories

Time conjunctions are especially useful when telling stories.

Compare this basic version:

• I woke up late. I missed the bus. I arrived at work. My boss was waiting. I apologised.

Now look at the improved version:

• After I woke up late, I rushed out of the house. By the time I reached the bus stop, the bus had already left. When I finally arrived at work, my boss was waiting by the door. As soon as I saw her face, I knew I was in trouble.

The second version is much better because the events are connected clearly. This is exactly the kind of language that helps in B2 First and C1 Advanced writing tasks.

Final Thoughts on Time Conjunctions in English

Time conjunctions in English are essential for clear and fluent communication. They help you explain when things happen, connect events logically, and make your stories and writing easier to follow.

Use before and after to show order. Use until to show how long something continues. Use by the time to show what has already happened by a certain moment. Use as soon as and once to describe what happens next. Use since to refer to a starting point. Use when and while to connect actions that happen at the same time.

Once you start using time conjunctions confidently, your English becomes much more natural. And, let’s be honest, it is much better to say, “By the time I arrived, the cake had disappeared,” than simply, “I arrived. No cake.” That is not grammar. That is a tragedy.

Download the Time Conjunctions Practice Worksheet in PDF here

FAQ: Time Conjunctions in English

What are time conjunctions in English?

Time conjunctions are words or phrases that connect two parts of a sentence and show when something happens. Examples include when, while, before, after, until, since and as soon as.

What is the difference between until and by the time?

Until shows how long something continues. By the time shows what has already happened before or at a particular moment.

Can we use will after time conjunctions?

No, not usually. In future time clauses, we use the present simple after time conjunctions. Say: I’ll call you when I arrive, not when I will arrive.

What is the difference between when and while?

When often refers to a point in time or a shorter action. While usually refers to a longer action or background activity.

Why are time conjunctions useful in English?

They help you connect events clearly, tell stories, describe routines, and make your writing and speaking sound more fluent and organised.

Related posts:

Past Perfect Tense 

Past Perfect Simple vs Past Perfect Continuous 

Present Perfect Simple in English 

Linking Words and Phrases 

Linking Words and Phrases for Time 

Words and Phrases for Sequencing Ideas

How to Write a Story for B2 First for Schools (FCEfS)

Narrative Tenses in English

Visit our bookshop for more